Underrated programs Forum
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- Posts: 37
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Underrated programs
So on this board I've read quite a few posts talking about programs that are overrated. For example alot of people tend to think WUSTL's ranking is inflated. I don't necessarily agree with that but if it is true then some schools must be underrated. Which would those be? Mainly talking about schools in the top 25/30. Just curious where some good deals might be.
- NosferatuDracon
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:19 pm
Re: Underrated programs
By no means am I an expert, i.e. don't take this as fact because it is purely speculation on my part from the little I've read about, on the subject but I would say that any of the top state school programs are great deals regardless of where they are ranked due to getting in state tuition and all. But specifically I'd imagine Alabama, UNC, Ohio State, Colorado, U of Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Louisiana(due to the fact they have a unique legal system), Temple, Pittsburgh... maybe also Kentucky, Utah, Arizona, South Carolina...I'm sure there's plenty more "good deals" just depends on your individual circumstanceKillacam18 wrote:So on this board I've read quite a few posts talking about programs that are overrated. For example alot of people tend to think WUSTL's ranking is inflated. I don't necessarily agree with that but if it is true then some schools must be underrated. Which would those be? Mainly talking about schools in the top 25/30. Just curious where some good deals might be.
If you're not set on working in BigLaw in a major market and could get a really nice scholarship to one of those schools in addition to paying in-state tuition and placed in the top of your class I'd say the regional recruiting would be pretty darn good for you and the pay...even if those markets did pay less then the "standard" BigLaw salaries they have lower COL and you'd have no or very little law school debt to take into consideration.
- najumobi
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Re: Underrated programs
overrated by usnews: indiana, illinois, emory,Killacam18 wrote:So on this board I've read quite a few posts talking about programs that are overrated. For example alot of people tend to think WUSTL's ranking is inflated. I don't necessarily agree with that but if it is true then some schools must be underrated. Which would those be? Mainly talking about schools in the top 25/30. Just curious where some good deals might be.
underrated by usnews:boston college, fordham, george washington
i think usc, ucla, fordham, gw, bc, bu, nd, wustl, emory,should all be grouped together.
- NosferatuDracon
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:19 pm
Re: Underrated programs
Any particular reason?najumobi wrote:
overrated by usnews: indiana, illinois, emory,
underrated by usnews:boston college, fordham, george washington
i think usc, ucla, fordham, gw, bc, bu, nd, wustl, emory,should all be grouped together.
- beef wellington
- Posts: 882
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:05 am
Re: Underrated programs
GW for sure, they dropped 8 spots this year because USNWR's new rule about PT programs screwed them. Or something.
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- holydonkey
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 pm
Re: Underrated programs
Really believe bottom T-14 = rest of T-18. Not sure Gtown or Cornell is any different than UCLA, Texas, Vandy or USC.
Also - Illinois seems higher than Indiana even though they are ranked the same and Notre Dame seems equal to around WUSTL and Emory. Maybe better.
Also - Illinois seems higher than Indiana even though they are ranked the same and Notre Dame seems equal to around WUSTL and Emory. Maybe better.
- najumobi
- Posts: 1054
- Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:36 pm
Re: Underrated programs
i used usnews to look at median salaries for 2007 grads. indiana and illinois (and also minn) are much like other lower state schools (unc, georgia, w&m). bc, fordham, gw beat out emory.NosferatuDracon wrote:Any particular reason?najumobi wrote:
overrated by usnews: indiana, illinois, emory,
underrated by usnews:boston college, fordham, george washington
i think usc, ucla, fordham, gw, bc, bu, nd, wustl, emory,should all be grouped together.
example:
bc
41% over 135k
33% under 135k
24% ps at 47k- 21.5% med
5% govt
14% clerkships with 3.5% federal
5% pi
2% academia
0% unknown
gwu
42% over 135k
29% under 135k
27% ps at 54k- 22% mediocre
13% govt
3% pi
11% clerkships with 5% federal
1% academia
1% unknown
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Re: Underrated programs
holydonkey wrote:Really believe bottom T-14 = rest of T-18. Not sure Gtown or Cornell is any different than UCLA, Texas, Vandy or USC.
Also - Illinois seems higher than Indiana even though they are ranked the same and Notre Dame seems equal to around WUSTL and Emory. Maybe better.
Indiana is massively over-ranked. Minnesota and Iowa are also slightly over ranked for their placement.
- anthonyc350
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:22 pm
Re: Underrated programs
kansas trolling! go mizzouNosferatuDracon wrote:By no means am I an expert, i.e. don't take this as fact because it is purely speculation on my part from the little I've read about, on the subject but I would say that any of the top state school programs are great deals regardless of where they are ranked due to getting in state tuition and all. But specifically I'd imagine Alabama, UNC, Ohio State, Colorado, U of Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Louisiana(due to the fact they have a unique legal system), Temple, Pittsburgh... maybe also Kentucky, Utah, Arizona, South Carolina...I'm sure there's plenty more "good deals" just depends on your individual circumstanceKillacam18 wrote:So on this board I've read quite a few posts talking about programs that are overrated. For example alot of people tend to think WUSTL's ranking is inflated. I don't necessarily agree with that but if it is true then some schools must be underrated. Which would those be? Mainly talking about schools in the top 25/30. Just curious where some good deals might be.
If you're not set on working in BigLaw in a major market and could get a really nice scholarship to one of those schools in addition to paying in-state tuition and placed in the top of your class I'd say the regional recruiting would be pretty darn good for you and the pay...even if those markets did pay less then the "standard" BigLaw salaries they have lower COL and you'd have no or very little law school debt to take into consideration.
- UFMatt
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:59 pm
Re: Underrated programs
Over-rated:
Indiana
Under-rated:
Notre Dame
BC
GW
Slightly Over-Rated:
WUSTL
Iowa
Minnesota
Slight Under-rated:
W&M
W&L
I say this very loosely based on my perception of their prestige, portability, and job placement.
Indiana
Under-rated:
Notre Dame
BC
GW
Slightly Over-Rated:
WUSTL
Iowa
Minnesota
Slight Under-rated:
W&M
W&L
I say this very loosely based on my perception of their prestige, portability, and job placement.
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Re: Underrated programs
People vastly underrate state schools that have a decent market. U. Washington, Colorado, and Florida are the three that come to mind.
- anthonyc350
- Posts: 130
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Re: Underrated programs
overrated: Iowa, Indiana, American, Cardozo, Connecticut
underrated: USD, FSU, Florida, tOSU, Missouri, Nebraska, UNC
underrated: USD, FSU, Florida, tOSU, Missouri, Nebraska, UNC
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- Posts: 37
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:11 am
Re: Underrated programs
Thanks for all the responses. One comment I do have is that in terms of using salaries as an indication of prestige, the market people are working in greatly affects that. As has been mentioned thousands of times, COL needs to be included in your analysis whenever you start looking at salaries. But I think all of your opinions are pretty right on, and was only really looking for gut-feelings anyway. Plus while I've heard some of these things before, why do you think the schools listed are over/underrated?
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- Space_Cowboy
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:52 am
Re: Underrated programs
(http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog ... judge.html)
I think a school scoring high in the rankings but not being comparably well regarded by lawyers/judges qualifies as being overrated.
BU, IUB, Alabama and Fordham seem to qualify.
I think a school scoring high in the rankings but not being comparably well regarded by lawyers/judges qualifies as being overrated.
BU, IUB, Alabama and Fordham seem to qualify.
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Re: Underrated programs
I don't think national reputation should really matter post T18ish were all schools become almost exclusively regional.Space_Cowboy wrote:(http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog ... judge.html)
I think a school scoring high in the rankings but not being comparably well regarded by lawyers/judges qualifies as being overrated.
BU, IUB, Alabama and Fordham seem to qualify.
- Space_Cowboy
- Posts: 197
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Re: Underrated programs
To each his own.Desert Fox wrote:I don't think national reputation should really matter post T18ish were all schools become almost exclusively regional.Space_Cowboy wrote:(http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog ... judge.html)
I think a school scoring high in the rankings but not being comparably well regarded by lawyers/judges qualifies as being overrated.
BU, IUB, Alabama and Fordham seem to qualify.
- BriaTharen
- Posts: 750
- Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:17 pm
Re: Underrated programs
Louisiana is underrated if you want to practice in the south or internationally (much of the rest of the world has the civil law system), but in the US outside of Louisiana, LSU is a good school, but a higher ranked school will still look better.
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- Dignan
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Re: Underrated programs
Underrated: GW, Hastings, U of Maryland
- quetzalcoatl
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:23 am
Re: Underrated programs
Nebraska is sure to move into the t-2's pretty soon. I think them and Texas Tech are the top schools that are still t-3.anthonyc350 wrote:overrated: Iowa, Indiana, American, Cardozo, Connecticut
underrated: USD, FSU, Florida, tOSU, Missouri, Nebraska, UNC
- kittenmittons
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- Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:24 pm
Re: Underrated programs
Georgetown is underratedly overrated
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Re: Underrated programs
UNC is an anomally to me, they have a relatively low LSAT median compared to their high quality ranking.
- Helmholtz
- Posts: 4128
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Re: Underrated programs
Underrated: George Washington, UNC, Oregon, and Nebraska
Overrated: Boston, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Cincinnati, Pepperdine, Georgia St., UNLV, San Francisco, and Ohio Northern.
Overrated: Boston, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Cincinnati, Pepperdine, Georgia St., UNLV, San Francisco, and Ohio Northern.
- Katerina
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Re: Underrated programs
BC or BU?Helmholtz wrote:Underrated: George Washington, UNC, Oregon, and Nebraska
Overrated: Boston, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Cincinnati, Pepperdine, Georgia St., UNLV, San Francisco, and Ohio Northern.
- Helmholtz
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Re: Underrated programs
BUKaterina wrote:BC or BU?Helmholtz wrote:Underrated: George Washington, UNC, Oregon, and Nebraska
Overrated: Boston, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Cincinnati, Pepperdine, Georgia St., UNLV, San Francisco, and Ohio Northern.
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